ENFIELD — Theater lovers in Enfield have something to celebrate as the Dionysus Theatre Company settles into its new home at the Enfield Square Mall.
This black box theatre, originally founded in 2013, has been dedicated to bringing immersive and thought-provoking performances to the community.
DTC collaborated with the Vernon Arts Center for years, steadily building its reputation for immersive storytelling and innovative staging. However, the company always aspired to have a dedicated space of its own. As they grew, they explored unconventional venues, including a former jiu-jitsu studio in Tolland, where they staged a play requiring a European-style apartment setting. While these spaces provided creative opportunities, they were never permanent solutions.
The search for a lasting home led them to the Enfield Square Mall, which was seeking businesses to repurpose its available spaces. Artistic Director Gabbi Mendelsohn saw an opportunity to transform a former sneaker store, Finish Line, into an intimate black box theatre.
“Enfield is a great community, and the mall is the perfect location. It’s easy to get to, has plenty of parking, and allows for great flexibility in staging many events, productions, and class options,” she said.
The transformation of the space was no small feat. The former Finish Line still had signage labeling youth, men, and women sections, along with a basketball hoop and shelves lining the walls. The team embraced the challenge, reconfiguring the store into a 60-seat black box theatre with risers surrounding a floor-level stage, allowing for flexible and immersive productions.
DTC’s next production in its new home will be Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz, opening March 7 and running for three weekends. The play delves into complex family dynamics, politics and buried secrets — themes that align with the company’s mission of thought-provoking storytelling.
Mendelsohn envisions a bright future for DTC in Enfield. “In five years, we would love to have a solid core of patrons continuing to support our efforts. Having a tie to the school system/youth services in Enfield to showcase our works and create an opportunity for students to get involved
